Setting up an Internet Connection
Table of Contents
KDE offers a complete Internet experience, with all the programs you'll need to make the most of the Web, email, Usenet and many other Internet technologies. But before you can enjoy KDE's advanced features, you'll need to get online. Here's how:
If you're using “dialup” (that is, connecting to the Internet with a modem connected to a telephone line), you'll want to set up the KDE dialing program, KPPP. If that sounds complicated, don't worry: KPPP has an advanced configuration wizard, which will usually take the pain out of setting up your dialup connection. Take a look at the next two sections for more details.
If you're using a broadband connection, or connecting via a local network, things are easier (from the point of view of KDE). Once you've set up the connection with the tools provided by your Linux® or UNIX® distribution, KDE will use the connection automatically.
If you have a fairly modern Linux® distribution, you might find the rest of this document superfluous. KPPP comes with a clever little wizard that in many cases can have you up and running with an internet connection in just a few minutes.
Whether using the wizard or not, you should know the following information before you begin:
Your ISP modem pool phone number.
Your username and password for your ISP.
Your ISP's DNS servers (one is sufficient, but two is better).
Other optional information you should find out to fully access your ISP's services are:
The incoming mail server address (often pop.yourisp.com or mail.yourisp.com).
Also find out if your ISP uses the POP3 protocol or IMAP.
The outgoing (SMTP) mail server address (it
could be the same as the incoming mail server, or it is often called something
like smtp.yourisp.com).
The Usenet News (NNTP) server address (possibly
news.yourisp.com or nntp.yourisp.com).
Any proxy servers your ISP has set up.
All this information is probably available on any paperwork you received from your ISP when you signed up with them, or you can find it out from your ISP's support telephone line.
Armed with the above, and a fairly recent default installation of Linux®, you may well find that setting up an internet connection is as simple as running the KPPP wizard.
